The Ultimate Treasure

by Anne, Melody

  “Don’t worry, if you get sore, I’ll be sure to rub it out for you,” he said for her ears only.

  And just like that, Lexie’s worry faded as heat invaded her. The snow gently falling around them could have been a tropical shower because she would have sworn steam was rising from her flushed skin. With only words and a light touch, Lance could make her go up in flames. The man had too much power over her. She didn’t appreciate that fact.

  “You won’t be touching anything,” she whispered back.

  “You sure wanted me to earlier,” he reminded her.

  Lexie looked around to make sure their conversation wasn’t overheard. Lance wasn’t holding back any punches, and it was slightly mortifying as it was his family she was with. She almost wished she had her own clan to drag him to so she could put him through the same embarrassment. Then again, she had a feeling he wouldn’t mind. No matter where they were, she was sure Lance would fit right in. He was just that sort of guy.

  “Please,” she said, hating that she was begging.

  He gave her a smile. “It’s a small community that gets into the holidays. They have booths and food, drinks and singing . . . and ice-skating,” he told her as he tugged on her hand, making her move forward.

  Lexie obediently followed as Joseph plowed his way through the snow so he could meet with the rest of the family. She had a bad feeling the afternoon wasn’t going to be as pleasant as Joseph was hoping.

  While she wasn’t the klutziest person on earth, she never had mastered the art of skating, and with his entire family probably able to do triple axels, she was going to feel like the odd man out. Her only saving grace was she knew her sister hadn’t learned either. But Savvy most likely had been there last year and had some practice beneath her belt. Lexie had zip, zero, zilch.

  “I think I’d much rather sit in the cheering section and applaud you,” she said, stooping to batting her eyelashes as she attempted a pathetic version of flirtation.

  “Don’t worry; if you start to fall, I’ll catch you,” he tried to assure her.

  Lexie let it go. She didn’t want to be one of those people who complained too much just because she didn’t necessarily like what was happening. If she fell, so be it. Hopefully there would be others who would be down with her.

  All the family was at the entrance to the place when they got there, and the kids were giddy with joy. Lexie noticed when the oldest grandchild, Jasmine, snuck off to flirt with one of the boys wearing a Santa hat serving hot chocolate. That didn’t last long, though, because her father, Lucas, spotted what was going on and marched over, sending the boy a terrifyingly dark look. The boy couldn’t have been more than seventeen and quickly thanked Jasmine for her order, then refused to look her in the eyes again.

  Lexie looked over to see Joseph chuckling with his two brothers as the scene unfolded. Then the old man whispered something that had his two brothers looking at their grandchild/niece.

  As Lexie and Lance passed them, she heard Joseph’s words, and wondered if Lance had been right about the old men being meddlers. He told his brothers it wouldn’t be long before the next generation would be ready to settle down and give them more babies.

  Lexie decided it might be a lot safer to stay off those men’s radar. They had one son/nephew left in their family who was single, and she was there with that particular man. She couldn’t think that way because then she might start believing in Christmas miracles and hoping for a future that wasn’t in the cards for her.

  Lexie procrastinated as long as possible before Lance dragged her over to the huge outdoor ice rink, filled with his family and many other happy Christmas folks. Before she knew it, she was holding skates in her hand and being led to a bench.

  Her stomach clenched as she took her time putting them on, lacing them up, and then gazing at Lance’s hand as if it were a snake. She was going to fall down. She had no doubt about it. At least she had a nice massage to look forward to when it happened.

  “You will be fine,” Lance assured her.

  “I’m just warning you now that if I fall, I’m taking you down with me,” she threatened. If he was so keen on holding her hand, he’d been warned.

  Lexie was wobbly as the two of them made their way onto the ice. Her sister flew by, laughing as Ashton pulled her into his arms and skated backward, perfectly she might add, just so he could kiss her.

  Lexie smiled at the pure joy on Savvy’s face as she looked at the husband she loved so much. Lexie felt a stab of jealousy that her sister had everything she’d never known she’d wanted. It was beautiful and special, and Lexie wondered if she would ever come close to feeling that much joy.

  As she had the thought, her gaze was captured by Lance. He let go of her hand, which sent her into a panic, before his arms came around her and hugged her close.

  Just like that her nerves evaporated and she was lost in his eyes. He was so beautiful, showed so much affection in his eyes, and made her feel like she was the only woman on the planet when he looked at her. She forgot to protect her heart when she was lost in his gaze.

  “You are stunning,” he said, leaning down and kissing her. Lexie didn’t hesitate to kiss him back. When he pulled away, she felt as if she were in a dream.

  “Did you find more mistletoe?” his cousin Drew asked as he skated by.

  Lexie turned and smiled at him. “We’re looking for it.”

  That made both him and Lance laugh, and Lexie tightened that seal on her coffin a little more. She was growing too comfortable if she was able to think so quickly without being embarrassed.

  Lance pulled away with what felt like reluctance and took her hand again as they slowly moved around the rink. They circled a couple times before Lexie began to feel confident on the ice. She began looking up, noticing all the people doing twirls and spins in the center, and she realized she was having a great time.

  “Ready to play?” Lance asked.

  “Maybe,” she told him. “Why don’t you show me what you can do?”

  The look Lance gave her should have frightened her, but even though Lexie was completely out of her element, she was also with Lance, and as long as he was holding on to her she felt invincible.

  Lance let her go and skated forward. He’d been holding back. He did some twists and turns and Lexie laughed as he met up with his brothers, and they began a game of hot potato. Lexie got a bit braver and joined them, although going much slower than everyone else.

  The ball was suddenly tossed to her and surprisingly she caught it. Before she was able to pass it off, she felt her feet begin to slide out from beneath her. Here came the sore bottom she’d been afraid of. But more than that, she worried her hands would be on the ice and someone skating by would hit them.

  All of these thoughts flashed through her mind as she windmilled, trying to stop the inevitable fall. She was almost on the ice when Lance flew in from nowhere and grabbed her. The momentum was too great to stop the fall, but he twisted at the last second and was the one to land hard on the ice. She went down on top of him, but not gracefully.

  Lance made a noise from deep inside his gut unlike anything she’d ever heard before as her knee connected with his groin. His brothers were heading in their direction, and as Lexie looked up she saw the wince on each of their faces as they cringed in sympathy for their brother.

  “I’m so sorry, so very, very sorry,” Lexie told Lance as she tried to get off him. She only made it worse though, when she slipped and went down again, hitting him this time in the eye with her elbow.

  Much to the man’s credit, he didn’t toss her off him, just reached up and grabbed her shoulders as he looked at her with pain in his eyes.

  “Please,” he groaned, his voice barely recognizable, “stop helping me.”

  Lexie froze as she forced her body to relax. She looked into his eyes and wondered if this was it, if he was finally goi
ng to figure out what an utter mess she really was. Arms reached beneath hers, and she was lifted off Lance as Alex, another cousin, skated to a perfect stop in front of them and reached down to assist Lance.

  “Damn, cuz, that didn’t look like it felt too good,” Alex said, though there was obvious mirth in his voice.

  “You think?” Lance snapped as he accepted his cousin’s hand. His voice was already beginning to return to normal.

  “I’m so sorry,” Lexie said again, horrified that she’d maimed him. “I told you I shouldn’t get on the ice. I’m so sorry.” She had warned him, but that didn’t mean she should prevent him from having children because he’d wanted her to try a new activity.

  “Don’t worry about it, Sis, I think he’ll survive,” her sister said as she joined the crowd. His entire family was there, seeing what she’d done. Lexie was utterly horrified and wanted nothing more than to go home.

  “I think I’m done skating for the day,” Lance said, then shocked Lexie when he grinned at her. “Unless there’re any other parts of my body you want to damage,” he added with a wink.

  “So sorry,” she muttered again.

  Most of his family had been trying to hold in their laughter but they finally let loose, and soon half of them were bent over as they chortled so loudly the rest of the rink of skaters were turning to look in their direction.

  “We’d better go find some snow for Lance to sit in for a while,” Joseph said, even his voice filled with mirth.

  “I think I’ll pass,” Lance said with a roll of his eyes. “But I think I might be the one in need of that massage,” he added as he looked at Lexie.

  The entire family turned and looked at her, and she was grateful for the cold, because her heated cheeks could be blamed on the low temperatures and not her mortification.

  Lance easily moved over to her and wrapped his arm around her before leaning in and giving her a light peck on the lips. “Best time I’ve ever had here,” he said to her.

  Now that the drama was over, the rest of the family drifted off, some to get a few more twirls in on the ice, but most to go and change out of their skates so they could get a hot drink before they drove home.

  “I think you might have hit your head,” Lexie told Lance as they sat down, and she quickly began unlacing the weapons on her feet.

  “I kept you from getting hurt,” he said proudly.

  “At your own expense,” she reminded him.

  “Ah, you can’t hurt me,” he told her. He was back to normal within minutes. It was insane. But as she looked at his beautiful face, she noticed purple beginning to show around his eye and she reached up and gently ran her thumb across it.

  “I really am sorry,” she told him again.

  “Why don’t you just kiss my injuries to make them all better?” he said with a waggle of his brows.

  Lexie finally relaxed as she smiled at him.

  “You are insufferable,” she told him.

  “I try,” he told her before a wicked gleam appeared in his eyes. “You might have to nurse me back to health.”

  “Oh really?” she asked. “And what exactly do you need?”

  He reached for her, tugging her easily onto his lap before kissing her hard, but far too quickly. She was still breathless.

  “First of all, I think I’m gonna have to get you a naughty nurse outfit so you can act the part.”

  Lexie laughed before she kissed him. Leaning back, she gazed at this man who made her feel so many new emotions.

  “I think you faked being hurt,” she told him.

  “No, I’m in pain. I need my nurse,” he said as he crossed his fingers over his heart.

  “Well then, first order is to get you home and ice the merchandise,” she said as she reluctantly pulled herself from his lap. She noticed the lump in his pants. “Obviously you’re not that injured.”

  “I can’t control my body. You sit on my lap, and my lower half gets ideas,” he said with a chuckle. “It also doesn’t help that I’m now picturing you in a nurse outfit that doesn’t leave anything to the imagination.”

  Lexie hadn’t ever been into role-play, but for this man, she might be willing to do just about anything. She pushed the fear away as he stood up, and they walked side by side from the rink. She was too content to dwell on her worries — at least for now.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Never in his life had Lance thought it would be a blessing to get kneed in the groin. But he found himself grateful it had happened, because they were back at the lodge with his family, the kids all curled up on beanbag chairs on the floor, the adults sitting on various furniture, but most importantly, Lexie was curled up at his side, rubbing his thigh as they laughed through the Christmas movie, Arthur Christmas.

  He’d never watched it before, but it was quickly turning into his favorite of all time as Lexie laughed and grew misty-eyed beside him on the couch. He was fully conscious of her hand on his thigh, though the best part was she was doing it unconsciously. She wasn’t worried about putting on a show, or even thinking about what anyone else thought of them.

  They were surrounded by family, but he felt as if it were just the two of them in their own little bubble. Lance had gone a long time thinking he didn’t need anyone around him, but now he enjoyed his family, and he really enjoyed the woman at his side.

  It was a delicate matter, he decided, because he didn’t want to scare her away, but he also didn’t want her to think she wasn’t important. If he had his way, he’d be dropping to his knees in front of her right now and demanding she stay with him forever.

  The most shocking part was how right that felt. Just a few short months, hell, weeks ago, he’d been against marriage, against doing what his family deemed his responsibility to settle down. Now, he couldn’t think of anything other than marriage and babies.

  Lance ran his fingers through Lexie’s soft hair and felt warmth spread inside him as she sighed and snuggled closer. He was so relaxed, there could be a tornado ripping through the living room and he didn’t think he’d care enough to move.

  Lance finally understood what his siblings had been talking about since they’d met the person they couldn’t live without. What had once felt like shackles now felt freeing. Maybe later he’d have to kick himself, but for now, he knew his life wouldn’t be complete if he screwed things up and let this woman go.

  The movie ended and his cousins and siblings began rounding up their kids to get them ready for bed. A couple years ago, he’d been thankful he hadn’t been a part of the masses looking frazzled as family members tried to get the kids to bed so they could have a few moments alone. Now, it was the opposite. He wished he had a little girl with Lexie’s eyes who would cuddle against his shoulder as he carried her off to a princess bed and tucked her in.

  He wanted to be the one reading a bedtime story and hearing her say she loved him. He wanted things that had seemed worse than death at one time. But he now realized there was no purpose to life if he planned on living alone forever. A lonely existence he wanted no part of.

  Soon the room cleared and Lance was alone with Lexie, who seemed content to do nothing more than stay right where she was. He wanted to pick her up, carry her to their room, and make sweet love to her.

  “I think I need that medical attention now,” he whispered as his fingers ran down her shoulder and drifted across the top of her luscious breasts. This wasn’t the place to get worked up. People could walk in at any time, but he couldn’t seem to help himself.

  “Oh really?” she asked in a relaxed voice.

  “Yeah, I’m really hurting here . . . I think I’m swollen,” he told her, trying to sound pathetic but unable to keep the smile out of his voice.

  “That’s terrible,” she told him with a chuckle. “I wouldn’t want anything to have to be cut off.”

  Lance winced at that thought. “No
, we definitely don’t want that to happen,” he said emphatically.

  Lexie pulled away from him, and he didn’t want to let her go, but then she stood up and held out a hand to him, and he knew right then if he’d been in the Garden of Eden, he would have accepted the apple without a twinge of guilt. He’d follow this woman anywhere she wanted to lead him.

  The two of them strolled through the large lodge, and though Lance was throbbing and wanted to sink inside her more than he wanted to take his next breath, he found himself also enjoying the walk to their shared room together. He wasn’t in a hurry. He enjoyed the anticipation. He was definitely going to have to turn in his man card at this rate.

  That thought made him smile. As long as he kept his ridiculous thoughts to himself, he was fine. His brothers and cousins would rag him to no end, even though they were just as infatuated with their women as he was with Lexie.

  They reached their room and Lance shut the door behind them. Lexie gave him a sexy glance before she disappeared into the bathroom. He wanted to strip off his clothes and stand in front of the fire, but he also didn’t know what was on her mind, so he decided to wait.

  Dang, he was having fun with this woman. He loved the uncertainty of it all, and that surprised him. Normally, he thrived on being in control at all times and in all ways. But with Lexie, part of the appeal was in knowing she wasn’t going to do whatever pleased him to get his attention. She was her own person, and if she was with him it was because she wanted and needed to be.

  Lexie stepped out of the bathroom in nothing but one of his white, button-down shirts, halfway undone, with a red medical cross drawn on the pocket; he nearly embarrassed himself and exploded in his pants.

  Her hair was in a sloppy bun, and she was holding a notepad and pen in her hand. He began to move toward her, and she shook her head, making him stop instantly. He was a willing puppet drooling at her feet.

  “I hear you have an injury to your . . .” She paused as her eyes drifted down his body and focused on the part of him that was throbbing.